[Adopted 1-17-2017 by L.L. No. 1-2017[1]]
[1]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art.
I, Utilities Tax.
A.
Legislative intent. The purpose of this Article I, entitled a "Utility Tax Law," is to enable the Village to collect utility gross receipt taxes.
B.
GROSS INCOME
(1)
(2)
(3)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
GROSS OPERATING INCOME
PERSON
TREASURER
UTILITY
(1)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(2)
VILLAGE
Definitions. As used in this Article I, each of the following defined terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Shall include:
In the case of a utility engaged in selling telephony or telephone
service, only receipts from local exchange service wholly consummated
within the Village.
In the case of a utility engaged in selling telegraphy or telegraph
service, only receipts from transactions wholly consummated within
the Village.
In the case of any utility other than described in Subsections
A and B hereof, includes:
Receipts received in or by reason of any sale, conditional or
otherwise, except sales hereinafter referred to with respect to which
it is provided that profits from the sale shall be included in gross
income made or service rendered for ultimate consumption or use by
the purchaser in the Village, including cash, credits and property
of any kind or nature, whether or not such sale is made or such service
is rendered for profit, without any deduction therefrom on account
of the cost of the property sold, the cost of the materials used,
labor or services or other costs, interest or discount paid or any
other expense whatsoever.
Profits from the sales of securities.
Profits from the sale of real property growing out of the ownership
or use of or interest in such property.
Profits from the sale of personal property other than property
of a kind which would properly be included in the inventory of a taxpayer
if on hand at the close of the period for which a return is made.
Receipts from interest, dividends and royalties derived from
sources within the Village, other than such as are received from a
corporation, a majority of whose voting stock is owned by the taxpaying
utility, without any deduction therefrom for any expenses whatsoever
incurred in connection with the receipts thereof.
Profits from any transaction, except sales for resale and rentals,
within the Village whatsoever.
Receipts received in or by reason of any sale, conditional
or otherwise, made for ultimate consumption or use by the purchaser
of gas, electricity, steam, water, refrigeration, telephony or telegraphy,
or in or by reason of the furnishing for such consumption or use of
gas, electric, steam, water, refrigeration, telephone or telegraph
service in this state, including cash, credits and property or any
kind or nature, without any deduction therefrom on account of the
cost of the property sold, the cost of materials used, labor or services
or other costs, interest or discount paid, or any other expenses whatsoever.
Persons, corporations, companies, associations, joint-stock
associations, copartnerships, estates, assignee of rents, any person
acting in a fiduciary capacity or any other entity, and persons, their
assignees, lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court whatsoever
or by any other means, except the state, municipalities, political
and civil subdivisions of the state or municipality, public districts
and corporations and associations organized and operated exclusively
for religious, charitable or educational purposes, no part of the
net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder
or individual.
The Treasurer of the Village.
Shall include:
Every person subject to the supervision of the State Department
of Public Service, except:
Persons engaged in the business of operating or leasing sleeping
and parlor railroad cars.
Persons engaged in the business of operating railroads other
than street-surface, rapid-transit, subway and elevated railroads.
Omnibus corporations subject to supervision under Article 3-A
of the Public Service Law.
Every person, whether or not such person is subject to such
supervision, who sells gas, electricity, steam, water, refrigeration,
telephony or telegraphy, delivered through mains, pipes or wires,
or furnishes gas, electric, steam, water, refrigeration, telephone
or telegraph service, by means of mains, pipes or wires, regardless
of whether such activities are the main business of such person or
are only incidental thereto, or of whether use is made of the public
streets.
The Incorporated Village of Phoenix, Onondaga County, New
York.
C.
Tax established. Pursuant to the authority granted by § 5-530
of the Village Law of the State of New York, a tax equal to 1% of
its gross income from and after the first day of June 1, 1969, is
hereby imposed:
(1)
A tax equal to 1% of the gross income of every utility doing business
in the Village which is subject to the supervision of the New York
State Department of Public Service, which has an annual gross income
in excess of $500, except motor carriers or brokers subject to such
supervision under Article 3-B of the Public Service Law.
(2)
A tax equal to 1% of its gross operating shall be imposed on every
other utility doing business in the Village which has an annual gross
operating income in excess of $500.
D.
Applicability. This article and the tax imposed thereby shall:
(1)
Apply only within the territorial limits of the Village.
(2)
Not apply and the tax shall not be imposed on any transaction originating
or consummated outside of the territorial limits of the Village, notwithstanding
that some act is necessarily performed with respect to such transactions
within such limits.
(3)
Be in addition to any and all other taxes.
(4)
Apply to all subject income received on and after June 1, 1969.
E.
Disposition of revenues. All revenues resulting from the imposition
of the tax imposed by this article shall be paid to the Treasurer
of the Village and shall be credited to and deposited in the general
fund of the Village.
F.
Designation of enforcement officer; promulgation of rules and regulations.
The Treasurer shall be the chief enforcement officer of this article
and shall make and be responsible for all collections hereunder. He
or she shall also have the power and authority to make any rules and
regulations or directives, not inconsistent with law, which, in his
discretion, are reasonably necessary to facilitate the administration
of this article and the collection of the taxes imposed hereby. Copies
of all such rules and regulations and directives as may from time
to time be promulgated shall be sent by registered mail to all utilities
subject to this article which register as such with the Treasurer.
All such rules, regulations and directives shall be deemed a part
of this article.
G.
Records. Every utility subject to tax under this Article I shall keep such records of its business and in such form as the Treasurer may require, and such records shall be preserved for a period of three years, except that the Treasurer may consent to their destruction within that period or may require that they be kept longer.
H.
Time of filing; contents.
(1)
Time of filing. Every utility subject to a tax hereunder shall file
semiannually, on or before September 25 and March 25, a return for
the six calendar months preceding each such return date and, in the
case of the first such return, for all preceding calendar months during
which the tax imposed hereby was effective. Any utility, whether subject
to tax under this article or not, may be required by the Treasurer
to file an annual return.
(2)
Filing and contents. Returns shall be filed with the Treasurer on
a form to be furnished by him or her for such purpose and shall show
thereon the gross income or gross operating income, as the case may
be, for the period covered by the return and such other information,
data or matter as the Treasurer may require to be included therein.
Every return shall have annexed thereto a certification by the head
of the utility making the same or of the owner or of a copartner thereof
or of a principal corporate officer to the effect that the statements
contained therein are true.
I.
Payment due with filing. At the time of filing a return as required by this Article I, each utility shall pay to the Treasurer the tax imposed by this Article I for the period covered by such return. Such tax shall be due and payable at the time of filing the return or, if a return is not filed when due, on the last day on which the return is required to be filed.
J.
Penalty for nonpayment. Any utility failing to file a return or a
corrected return or to pay any tax or any portion thereof within the
time required by this article, shall be subject to a penalty of 5%
of the amount of tax due, plus 1% of such tax for each month of delay
or fraction thereof, except the first month after such return was
required to be filed or such tax became due; but the Treasurer, if
satisfied that the delay was excusable, may remit all or any portion
of such penalty.
K.
Tax to be treated as operating cost. The tax imposed by this article
shall be charged against and be paid by the utility and shall not
be added as a separate item to bills rendered by the utility to customers
or others but shall constitute a part of the operating costs of such
utility.
L.
Failure to file or incorrect returns. In case any return filed pursuant
to this article shall be insufficient or unsatisfactory to the Treasurer,
he or she may require at any time a corrected or supplemental return,
which shall contain any data that may be specified by him, and if
a corrected or sufficient return is not filed within 20 days after
the same is required by notice from him or if no return is made for
any period, the Treasurer shall determine the amount due from such
information as he is able to obtain and, if necessary, may estimate
the tax on the basis of external indices or otherwise. He shall give
notification of such determination to the utility liable for such
tax. Such determination shall finally and irrevocably fix such tax,
unless the utility against which it is assessed shall, within one
year after giving the notice of such determination, apply to him for
a hearing or unless the Treasurer, of his own motion, shall reduce
the same. After such hearing, he shall give notice of his decision
to the utility liable for such tax.
M.
Review of final determination. Any final determination of the amount
of any tax payable hereunder shall be reviewable for error, illegality
or unconstitutionality or any other reason whatsoever by a proceeding
under Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules if the proceeding
is commenced within 90 days after the giving of notice of such final
determination; provided, however, that any such proceeding under said
Article 78 shall not be instituted unless the amount of any tax sought
to be reviewed, with such interest and penalties thereon as may be
provided for by local law, ordinance or resolution, shall be first
deposited and an undertaking filed in such amount and with such sureties
as a Justice of the Supreme Court shall approve to the effect that
if such proceeding is dismissed or the tax confirmed, the petitioner
will pay all costs and charges which may accrue in the prosecution
of such proceeding.
N.
Form notice. Any notice authorized or acquired under the provisions of this Article I may be given by mailing the same to the person for whom it is intended, in a postpaid envelope, addressed to such person at the address given by him in the last return filed by him under this Article I or, if no return has been filed, then to the address given in the last report of the utility filed with the Public Service Commission, or if no such report has been filed, to such address as may be obtainable. The mailing of such notice shall be presumptive evidence of the receipt of the same by the person to whom addressed. Any period of time, which is determined according to the provisions of this Article I by the giving of notice, shall commence to run from the date of mailing of such notice.
O.
Refunds. If, within one year from the giving of notice of any determination
or assessment of any tax or penalty, the person liable for the tax
shall make application for a refund thereof and the Treasurer or the
court shall determine that such tax or penalty or any portion thereof
was erroneously or illegally collected, the Treasurer shall refund
the amount so determined. For like cause and within the same period,
a refund may be so made on the initiative of the Treasurer. However,
no refund shall be made of a tax or penalty paid pursuant to a determination
of the Treasurer as hereinbefore provided, unless the Treasurer, after
a hearing as hereinabove provided or on his own motion, shall have
reduced the tax or penalty or it shall have been established in a
proceeding in the manner provided in the Civil Practice Law and Rules
that such determination was erroneous or illegal. An application for
a refund, made as hereinbefore provided, shall be deemed an application
for the revision of any tax or penalty complained of, and the Treasurer
may receive additional evidence with respect thereto. After making
his determination, the Treasurer shall give notice thereof to the
person interested, who shall be entitled to commence a proceeding
to review such determination, in accordance with the provision of
the following section hereof.
P.
Review of proceedings for refunds. Where any tax imposed hereunder
shall have been erroneously, illegally or unconstitutionally collected
and application for the refund thereof duly made to the Treasurer
and he shall have made a determination denying such refund, such determination
shall be reviewable by a proceeding under Article 78 of the Civil
Practice Law and Rules; provided, however, that such proceeding is
instituted within 90 days after the giving of the notice of such denial,
that a final determination of tax due was not previously made and
that an undertaking is filed with the Treasurer in such amount and
with such sureties as a Justice of the Supreme Court shall approve
to the effect that if such proceeding is dismissed or the tax confirmed,
the petitioner will pay all costs and charges which may accrue in
the prosecution of such proceeding.
Q.
Limitation on additional tax. Except in the case of a willfully false
or fraudulent return with the intent to evade the tax, no assessment
or additional tax shall be made with respect to taxes imposed under
this article after the expiration of more than three years from the
date of filing of a return, provided that, where no return has been
filed as required hereby, the tax may be assessed at any time.
R.
Powers of Village Treasurer. In addition to any other powers herein
given to the Treasurer and in order to further ensure payment of the
tax imposed hereby, he shall have the power to:
S.
Enforcement proceedings. Whenever any person shall fail to pay any
tax or penalty imposed by this article, the Village Attorney shall,
upon the request of the Treasurer, bring an action to enforce payment
of the same. The proceeds of any judgment obtained in any such action
shall be paid to the Treasurer. Each such tax and penalty shall be
a lien upon the property of the person liable to pay the same, in
the same manner and to the same extent that the tax and penalty imposed
by § 186-a of the Tax Law is made a lien.
T.
Changes in applicable law. With respect to the terms "gross income," "gross operating income" and "utility" as defined herein at Section 177-1B, in the event of any determination or ruling expanding or providing the option of expanding the definition of, scope of, inclusions in or similarly interpreting the terms "gross income," "gross operating income" or "utility" by any administrative, legislative, judicial or quasi judicial person(s), agency(ies) or body(ies) having jurisdiction over the foregoing so as to increase or potentially increase or expand the gross receipts to, or persons from, which the tax hereunder may apply, and thus increasing the tax due the Village as a result thereof, then from the effective date of such determination or ruling, the definitions of "gross income," "gross operating income" and/or "utility" shall be deemed amended to include same. If such ruling or determination provides an option, then the option shall likewise be deemed as exercised to the maximum extent thereof, effective from such date or earliest date possible. If such determination or ruling is following an appeal, review or similar proceeding, the effective date shall be the date which such appellate or review decision establishes explicitly or otherwise by operation of law, as the effective date upon and from which such provision or provisions shall apply.
U.
Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section
or part of this article or the application thereof to any person,
individual, corporation, firm, partnership, entity or circumstances
is adjudged invalid, illegal or unconstitutional by any court of competent
jurisdiction, such order or judgment shall be confined in its operation
to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part of
this article or in its application directly involved in the controversy
in which such judgment shall have been rendered and shall not affect
or impair the validity of the remainder of this article or the application
thereof to other persons or circumstances. Further, in adjudging such
invalid provision, the court or other person(s) or body having jurisdiction
over the parties or subject matter shall attempt to modify same to
a provision which is not invalid, illegal or unconstitutional and
which best achieves the intent of the invalid provision.
